Cavaliers Rout Celtics to Retake First in East

LeBron James had 36 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers ran beyond the Celtics, 114-91, in Boston on Wednesday night to move again into first area within the Eastern Conference.

The teams had same facts entering the sport, their very last normal-season matchup; Cleveland (51-27) now has a one-sport lead over Boston (50-28) with four video games to play. Cleveland additionally holds the tiebreaker.

Kyrie Irving introduced 19 factors and five assists for the Cavaliers, who have been missing their starting middle, Tristan Thompson, because of a sprained right thumb. They made do without him, surging at the start of the second region and taking a 29-point lead in the third area. They additionally outrebounded Boston, fifty one-38. Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 26 points.

WESTBROOK A REBOUND SHORT Russell Westbrook fell a rebound quick of a ancient triple-double, however he scored 45 factors, making a past due 3-pointer that helped seal the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 103-one hundred victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis. Westbrook had 10 assists and 9 rebounds, leaving him tied with Oscar Robertson’s fifty five-yr-antique document for triple-doubles in a season with forty one.

Westbrook’s 3-pointer — his 8th — with 14 seconds left and his unfastened throws within the very last 2nd gave the Thunder their 2d win in a row as they solidified their maintain on the Western Conference’s sixth seed.